There is a proverb that says “if you can read you can
cook”. Whilst not entirely true, it illustrates a fundamental
of successful cooking: read the recipe from start to finish,
well in advance of commencing food preparation. There are four
good reasons for this:

1. You obviously need to ensure you have all the ingredients
before you commence. Sometimes ingredients are “hidden”
in the method of a recipe, so ensure you read the entire recipe
when compiling your shopping list. There is nothing more frustrating
and stressful than having to dash to the grocery store in the
middle of the cooking process!

2. Timing - most important in the planning process. For example,
you may be preparing a fruit cake that requires the sultanas
to be soaked overnight, or a chicken dish that requires marinating
for at least 6 hours following by a long slow cook. You’ll
save yourself unnecessary stress if you are well prepared and
know how much time to allow yourself. When entertaining, I always
recommend writing a time plan indicating times for preparation
and cooking – it is a great guide to remind you what you
need to do and when!

3. You will need to ensure that you have the necessary tools
and equipment. For example, if you’re making crème
brulee, you will need ramekins, or if you are attempting to
make ice-cream, chances are you will need an ice-cream maker.
By reading the recipe thoroughly in the planning stages, you
will leave yourself sufficient time to purchase what you need,
or alternatively choose another recipe.

4. You need to determine whether you understand the cooking
processes and techniques, and whether you possess the necessary
skills to follow the recipe. If you are feeling adventurous,
you can reference any cooking terms you are not familiar with
in advance. Otherwise select a recipe that is within your limitations.

Most recipes start with the ingredient list, and list the
ingredients in the order they are used. Be aware of measurements
of ingredients – there is a big difference between ½
cup of parsley and ½ cup chopped parsley. If the recipe
calls for ½ cup chopped parsley, you will need to chop
the parsley before measuring it.

Australian recipes use the following measurements:

1 teaspoon = 5 ml
1 tablespoon = 20ml (4 teaspoons)
1 cup = 250ml

When using American and British cookbooks, recipes use different
measurements, so you will need to adjust the quantities as follows:

Many recipes call for weighted quantities. I recommend the
use of digital scales, particularly when baking where the quantities
are more critical.

A final word on measurements: it’s ok to be relaxed about
measurements in most recipes – after all, cooking is about
creativity not rigidity. However, any recipe that involves baking
(cakes, biscuits, pastries, bread, etc) generally requires more
accuracy when it comes to measurement and for this reason I
do recommend the use of scales and cup and spoon measures. I
would also apply this principle when entertaining, particularly
if you’re using a recipe for the first time.

To ensure cooking proceeds smoothly, it is recommended that
the ingredients are prepared first. This is known as mise en
place, a French term meaning “everything in its place”
and is a culinary term that refers to preparing and pre-measuring
ingredients ahead of time. For example, dice the onions, weigh
the flour, grate the cheese, etc, before you start the cooking
process. Preparing the mise en place ahead of time allows you
to cook without having to stop and assemble items, which is
particularly desirable in recipes with time constraints or when
preparing more than one recipe simultaneously.

Cooking temperatures are important, particularly oven temperatures.
Most modern recipes are tested using a fan forced oven, so if
you are using a conventional oven, add 10 degrees to the cooking
temperature. Similarly, if you are using an older recipe and
you have a fan-forced oven, reduce the stated cooking temperature
by 10 degrees. If you are unsure, most modern cookbooks will
state whether the temperatures are applicable to a fan-forced
or conventional oven. Always ensure you preheat your oven (allow
at least 15 minutes) before you commence cooking.

A
final note: do remember that in most cases a recipe is a guide
– experiment, be creative and add your special touch!